# Decoding Retirement Income: The Plan Sponsor Preference Gap

April 30, 2026 | 1 minute read

[Download](https://am.gs.com/en-us/advisors/insights/article/2026/decoding-retirement-income-plan-sponsor-preference-gap#)

## Are plan sponsors and participants aligned on retirement income preferences?

As we continue our discussion on [Decoding Retirement Income](https://am.gs.com/en-us/advisors/insights/article/2026/decoding-retirement-income-preference-gap), we now take another view and this installment evaluates the same paired comparison analysis conducted during a survey of plan sponsors and draws insights from comparing the results to the working and retired individual survey. In the full download, we share key insights on:

- **Prioritization of Longevity:** Plan sponsors prioritize retirement income strategies that offer guaranteed income. Their top-ranked explicit preference was providing guaranteed income for life (29%).
- **Preference for Partial Annuitization:** When evaluating specific strategies, plan sponsors consistently favored partial annuities. The top two choices in the paired comparison analysis were a 30% partial annuity combined with a 70% investment portfolio, and a 60% partial annuity combined with a 40% investment portfolio.
- **Implementation Barriers:** The most significant questions identified in the survey for plan sponsors in adopting retirement income products include the resources required for integration and administration (43%), developing communication strategies to explain products (42%), and aligning product features with participant demographics (42%).
- **Participant vs. Plan Sponsor Responses:** In analyzing the responses of participants and plan sponsors, there is a gap wherein sponsors favor partial guarantees and lifetime income, while participants often prioritize full access to savings, even if it results in lower income and/or no guarantee.

If you would like to read more of our Decoding Retirement Income series, please see [The Retirement Saver Preference Gap](https://am.gs.com/en-us/advisors/insights/article/2026/decoding-retirement-income-preference-gap) and [Plan Design Considerations](https://am.gs.com/en-us/advisors/insights/article/2026/decoding-retirement-income-plan-design-considerations).

**Chris Ceder**  
Senior Retirement Strategist, Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Decoding Retirement Income: The Plan Sponsor Preference Gap

Plan sponsors say they want lifetime income—yet their real choices reveal a preference for partial guarantees, and a gap with participant priorities.